Print wrapping mechanism



Aug. 19, 1941. J, RAPP Em 2,253,211

PRINT WRAI-PIIIG MECHANISM Filed March 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS KEN/V5771 GHEFT /0 BY KIRL Z/P/7PP 2 MmIQM ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 1941,

P; J. RAPE ETAL PRINT WRAPPING MECHANISM I Filed March 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS KENNETHQHE'FT 5/1/24 1 mm BY ATTORNEY Aug. 19, E RAPP ETAL PRINT WRAPPING MECHANISM Filed March 13, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS KENNETH 6. HEFT EflRL (A RHPP Mazda ATTORNEY.

Aug.19, 1941. E. J. RAPP HAL 2,253,211

PRINT WRAPPING MECHANISM Filed March 13, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4' INVENTORS AE/V/VETH G. HEFT ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1941 PRINT WRAPPING MECHANISM EarlJ. Rapp andKenneth G. Heft, Toledo, Ohio,

assignors to Morris Packaging Equipment Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application March13, 1939, Serial No. 261,462";

20 Claims.

This invention relates to the wrapping of prints or bars of semi-plastic material such as butter; oleomargarine, cheese, lard and the like but more particularly t-oa machine and method for successively wrapping printsof this character speedily and in such manner as to militate satisfactorily against the-unfolding of the wrapping sheet during the sheet folding operations.

An object is to producea new and improved wrapping mechanism of the abovecharacter by which thefolds are positively effected and after a fold is made, it is held in place so that liability ofunfolding during: the succeeding steps is obviated.

Another object is toproduce a wrapping machine which is capable of efficiently wrapping materials which are relatively soft and in such amanner that the prints are not deformed during the sheet folding steps.

A further object is to produce a new and improved method of handling prints ofthe above.

character by which individual prints are speedily and efficiently enclosed inrelativel'y flexible sheet material;

Other objectsand. advantages reside in the de- .tails of construction, arrangement ofparts and succession of folding steps hereinafter more particularly described.

For purposes of illustration but not of limitation, one embodiment of the invention is; shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a side elevation of the wrapping machine, the driving parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the position of the parts at the time a print is advanced: to the wrapping mechanism;

Figure 3'is a vertical sectional elevation substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is. a side elevation of the machine showing particularly-the operation ofthe blades for folding the endflaps against the print;

Figure 5 is a vertical" sectional elevation substan'tially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism showing particularly a print being discharged from the machine after the final folding operation;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 1- of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a rear end elevation partly in section of'the wrapping mechanism;

Figure '9 is a perspective view of the platform conveyor and associated parts; v

Figures 10-130 are diagrammatic views in side elevation showing the manner in which the wrappingsheet is progressively folded about the individual prints;

Figures 12a; 13a and l4uxare perspective views of an end portion of a printwith its wrapping sheet partially folded in accordance with the condition-of one ofthe prints shown on each. of. Figures 12, 13 and 15 respectively.

The illustrated embodiment. fcomprises a machine for wrapping relatively flexible sheetmaterial such as parchment paper,

about a. print or bar, for example a one-pound print of butter, ol'eomargarine, lard, cheese or the like. The wrapping mechanism is primarily intended. for use with a print forming machine of thetype shown and described in co-pending application of Kenneth G. Heft, Earl. J. Rapp and Lynn Dority, Serial, No. 254,618, although the wrapping mechanism may be used to advantage in other connections. As, shown, the machine comprises a frame I0 on which is mounted a housing I I in which prints or bars substantially rectangular in shape are formed or introduced. The prints'in the housing I I are elevated to such position that a ram I2- disposed at the upper end thereof can engage the rear face of the print and advance the same forwardly or to the right of Figure 1 toward a platform conveyor I3 which is mounted for vertical reciprocatory movements. The platform conveyor more particularly shown on Figure 9 consists of a pair of plates I4 which are spaced laterally from each other. The plates l4 are mounted respectively on shelves I5 which in turn are fixed to an inverted L-shaped support I6, the longer arm of the L reciprocating vertically in a guide block II.

Suitably supported by a bracket arm I8 are vertically disposed plates or dividers l9 and 20, the lower ends of which are adapted to abut against the upper surface of the platform plates I4 when the platform conveyor is in its elevated or receiving position. Another plate or vertical divider 2| disposed in advance of the plate 20 is rigid. with a bracket arm 22 which inturnis secured by bolts 23 to a suitable support.

The bracket arm I8 is suitably secured" to the sheet feeding and severing mechanism S which as indicated on Figure 1 consists of pairs of feed rolls 24, severing rolls 25 and segment feeding rolls 26. The web W' of relatively-flexible sheet material, such asparchment paper, from a supply roll (not shown) is fed downwardly between the above mentioned rolls, which operate recurrently in a well known mannerto feed a severed segment-into the path ofmovement of'the plate the invention advanced by the pusher I 2 as the print is advanced horizontally from the housing ll.

Normally disposed beneath the platform conveyor I3 is a carriage conveyor 2'! which consists of a slide 28 mounted for horizontal reciprocatory movement upon a guide 29, a link 30 connecting the slide to an arm 3| which is suitably rocked in timed relation to the other parts recurrently to move the slide 28 forwardly and rearwardly. Secured to the upper surface of the slide 28 is an upwardly extending arm 32. Spaced rearwardly from the arm 32 is a receiver having spaced upright walls 33 and 34 and a bottom wall 35, which in this instance is spaced above the slide 28.

Engageable with the upper portion of the wrapped bars are pushers or holding members 36 and 31 which are spaced from each other and are secured to an inverted U-shaped arm 28 which in turn is rigid with the inverted L-shaped support l6 of the platform conveyor l3 (Figure 9) so that as the platform conveyor l3 moves up and down, the pushers36 and 31 move concomitantly therewith.

For folding a portion of the sheet against opposite ends folding arms 39 are spaced laterally from each other and each is pivoted at its lower ends at 43 to a bracket on the frame 10. As indicated on Figure 8, the arms 39 are connected by a shaft 4| having a suitable cam 42 which is operated in any suitable manner to actuate the arms 39 in timed relation with the associated parts as will hereinafter appear. At the upper ends of each of the arms 39 (Figure 3) are folding shoes 43 which are adapted to slide horizontally along the conveyor platform l3 outside of the vertically disposed plates l9 and 20.

For forming further end folds in the wrapping sheet, upper and lower end folding shoes 44 and 45 respectively are provided on opposite sides of the machine. As indicated on Figure 5, the triangularly shaped end folding shoes 45 are secured at the lower ends to a shaft 46 which is suitably reciprocated in a vertical direction and in timed relation with the other parts as will hereinafter appear. As shown, the shoes 45 extend through slots 4-! formed in the plates I4 of the conveyor platform l3 (Figure 9). The shoes 44 are mounted on a transverse rod 43 which in turn is secured to a vertical reciprocatory post 49 slidable in a vertically disposed guide 53. An arm suitably secured to the rod 48 is adapted to impart reciprocatory movements to the shoes 44 in any suitable manner.

In the inner edge of each of the plates E4 of the conveyor platform I3 is a series of notches 52 arranged in diametrically opposed pairs to accommodate the arm 32 and walls or plates 33 and 34 carried by the horizontally reciprocatory carriage 23 in both the advanced and retrograde positions thereof.

Secured to the folded end portion of the platform conveyor I3 is a pair of folding plates 53 which are inclined with respect to'the plates M as shown on Figure 9, one plate being mounted on each of the supporting plates [4. The plates 53 effect the final fold of the wrapper sheet as the print is discharged from the conveyor platform by the vertically disposed arm 32. The fully wrapped prints are finally delivered to a platform 54.

1 Referring in particular to the diagrammatic views, it will be observed that in Figures and 11, the print P is advanced by the ram l 2 toward a segment T of wrapping material from the web W, the segment being supported in vertical position, the lower end resting upon a support 55. The ram l2 then pushes the print P horizontally into engagement with the segment T whereupon both the segment and print are moved upon the platform conveyor l3 until the vertically disposed plate I!) is reached. In this movement the segment T not only is engaged with the advanced or forward face of the print P but by means of the pusher or holding member 36 and platform conveyor i3, the segment T is folded about the upper and lower faces of the print as shown at the left-hand side of Figure 12. The pusher 36 remains in position and holds the upper fold in position, Thereupon the ram I2 retracts as indicated in Figure 13 to engage the next succeeding print and the platform conveyor l3 moves downwardly toward the carriage 28 which is disposed in such position that the vertical walls 33 and 34 of the receiver are positioned to receive the print P and its wrapping sheet.

In moving downwardly the portion of the wrapping sheet T' projecting outwardly from the lower face of the print P extends downwardly, but upon engagement with the plate 34, the portion T is folded upwardly about the rearward face of the print as indicated in Figure 13. As the platform conveyor I3 moves downwardly the pusher 36 likewise moves downwardly to hold the sheet against the top face of the print.

The next step in the folding of the sheet about the print P is indicated in Figure 15 in which the slide 28 has advanced or moved to the right of the figure to a position beneath the plates 20 and 21. Thereupon the platform conveyor 13 which as above explained interfits with the walls 34 and 33, moves upwardly moving the print P to the position shown in Figure 10 wherein the print P is referred to as P. While the print P is in the position shown in Figure 15, the pusher 37 engages the upper face of the print to hold the sheet from unwrapping and as the platform conveyor moves upwardly, the pusher 3'! also moves upwardly.

During the upward movement of the print P, the portion T (Figure 15) which extends rearwardly from the upper face of the print is folded downwardly in overlapping relation to the portion T by means of the plate 2 I! so that the print P as indicated in Figure 10, has the Wrapping sheet folded about its top and bottom and front and rear faces, portions of the sheet projecting outwardly beyond the ends of the print P In the next step the folding arms 39 move forwardly so that the folding shoes 43 fold a portion of the sheet material at opposite ends of the print 1 into engagement with the respective ends or to the position illustrated in Figure 12a. Before the folding shoes 43 have entirely withdrawn the upper folding plates 44 move downwardly to fold a portion or flap of the sheet downwardly in overlapping relation to the pertions previously folded by the folding shoes 43 and effect the folding as illustrated in Figure 13a. In the next step the lower folding plates 45 move upwardly to effect the folding of another flap in overlapping relation to the flap previously folded so that the print is completely folded with the exception of one projecting flap T' at each end as illustrated on Figure 14a. During this last folding operation the platform conveyor I3 moves downwardly as illustrated on Figure 13, the pushers 36 and 31 moving downwardly at the readily understood by those skilled in from-the machine, it being understood that during such advancing movement zbthend flaps ,T are folded, inwardly in overlapping relation against the previously folded flaps. The completely wrappedprints are then .dischargediupon the'platform I3.

From the above description it will be apparent that we have provided an exceedingly compact folding mechanism, the various .parts of which operate in timed relation to each other as above indicated. It is not believed necessary to show and describe the various mechanism'employed for effecting themovement of thevarious parts in thedesired timed relation because these form no part of the present invention and will be Another important feature of the invention is that the machine is provided with receivers into which the prints fit andthe arrangement-is such that the relatively soft material can be readily wrappedwithout diiiiculty and withoutsqueezing the print out of shape. The difficulty heretofore encountered in the packaging of soft materials, such as butter which has not been :kept. :at :a sufficiently low temperature .is obviated. "It will be further understood that in each step the sheet is positively folded and after a fold has been madeit is held in the fdldedDOSifilOI'I'SOLthat liability of the wrapper becoming unfo'ldedduring subsequent steps is obviated.

It is tobe understoodgthat numerous changes in detail'sof construction, "arrangement and ::operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially .as defined in-the appended claims.

'What we :claim is:

11. In a machine for wrapping prints of butter or the like, a reciprocatory print-supporting member, means to shift the print on said supporting member between :reciprocatory .move- .ments thereof, and a series of means operable progressively during said reciprocatory movements for folding a wrapping sheet about the print.

2. In a machine for wrapping prints :of butter or the like, a vertically recip-rocatory print-supporting member, a horizontally reciprocatory member adapted to shift a print on .said supporting member upon completion of vertical movement in one direction, and a seriesrof :means operable successively during vertical reciprocatory movements in both directions for folding a wrapping sheet about the print,

3. In a machine for wrapping "prints of butter or the like, a reciprocatory print-supporting member, means to advance a print in engagement with said member, means to hold a portion of the sheet against the upper side of the print, said last means being reciprocable with said supporting member, along said member at the end of the movement thereof in one direction, and a series of means operable successively during movement of said member in both directions for folding the, sheet about the, print.

4. In a machine for wrapping prints of butter this art.

means to shift. the print or the. like, :a vertically. reciprocatory print supporting member, ra horizontally shiftable carriageif or shifting a print on saidsupporting member; saidccarriage beingsubstantially U-shapedifor supportingtheprint on three-sides, and a series of means for foldinga sheet about the print .during'reciprocatory movements of said membe'r.

5. In-a machine for wrapping prints of butter or the like,a verticallyreciprocatoryprint-supporting member, 'a "horizontally shiftable carriageadapted to receive the print upon movement of said member "in'one'directionand-shift same along said "member, :said carriage being substantially .U-shaped for supporting the print on threesidesyaseriesof means for folding a sheet about the print duringreciprocatory movements of said member, and means engaging the tween print-receiving and print-discharging po- .sitions, stationary means cooperating with said conveyor to form two print-receiving compartments, achorizontally shiftable carriage adapted to engage a print on said conveyor when the latter is in discharging position and shift :the print into alignment with oneof said compartments whereupon the print is moved to such compartment in the succeeding vertical movement of said conveyor, said carriage concomitantly discharging the next preceding print from; said conveyor, and a series of means operable progressively duringsaid vertical and shifting movements for folding a wrapping sheet about aprint.

8. A print wrapping machine comprising .a platform conveyor reciprocabile vertically between .print-receiving .and print-discharging positions, stationarymeans cooperating with said conveyor to form two print-receiving compartments, a horizontally shiftable carriage adapted to engage opposite sides of a print on said conveyor when the latter is in discharging position and shift the print into alignment with one of said compartments whereupon the print is moved to such compartment in the succeeding vertical movement of said conveyor, said carriage concomitantly discharging the next preceding print from said conveyor, and a series of means operable progressively during said vertical and shifting movements for folding a wrapping sheet about :a print,

9. A print wrapping machine comprising a platform conveyor reciprocable vertically :between print-receiving and print-discharging positions, stationary means cooperating with said conveyor to form two print-receiving compartments, a horizontally shiftable carriage adapted to engage a print on said conveyor when the latter is in discharging position and shift the print into alignment with one of said compartments whereupon the print is moved to such compartment in the. succeeding vertical movementof said conveyor, a pusher on said carriagev and movable therewith for discharging the next preceding print simultaneously with the shifting of the other print, and a series of means for folding a sheet of relatively flexible sheet material about the print during movement thereof.

10. A print wrapping machine comprising a vertically reciprocable platform conveyor, plate means cooperating with said conveyor in one extreme position thereof to provide spaced initial and secondary print-receiving compartments, a horizontally shifting carriage having means to receive the print from said initial compartment, said means partially embracing a print for shifting same when the platform conveyor is in the other extreme position thereof, said carriage shifting the print along said conveyor whereupon said conveyor moves the print to said secondary compartment and then returns same to said carriage, and a series of means for wrapping sheet material about the print during movement thereof.

11. A print wrapping machine comprising a vertically reciprocable platform conveyor, plate means cooperating with said conveyor in one extreme position thereof to provide spaced initial and secondary print-receiving compartments, a horizontally shifting carriage having means to receive the print from said initial compartment, said means partially embracing a print for shifting same when the platform conveyor is in the other extreme position thereof, said carriage shifting the print along said conveyor whereupon said conveyor moves the print to said secondary compartment and then returns same to said carriage, means on said carriage for discharging the print after movement thereof from said secondary compartment, and a series of means for wrapping sheet material about the print during movement thereof.

12. A print wrappin machine comprising a vertically reciprocable platform conveyor, plate means cooperating with said conveyor in one extreme position thereof to provide spaced initial and secondary print-receiving compartments, a horizontally shifting carriage having means to receive the print from said initial compartment, said means partially embracing a print for shifting same when the platform conveyor is in the other extreme position thereof, said carriage shifting the print along said conveyor whereupon said conveyor moves the print to said secondary compartment and then returns same to said carriage, means movable concomitantly with said platform conveyor and juxtaposed to the upper side of the print, and a series of means for wrapping sheet material about the print during movement thereof.

13. A print wrapping machine comprising a vertically reciprocable platform conveyor, means to advance a print and sheet wrapper therefor onto said conveyor, a stationary plate against which the print abuts, a pusher above said conveyor and cooperating therewith and with said plate to form a three sided compartment for effecting folding of the sheet about three sides of the print, a carriage shiftable horizontally having means partially to embrace the print upon the first vertical movement of the conveyor and cause folding of a portion of the sheet about the remaining side of the print, said conveyor moving vertically after shifting of said carriage, additional plate means cooperating with said conveyor upon second vertical movement thereof causing overlapping of another portion of the sheet upon said remaining side, a second pusher engaging the top of the print in said last position, means for folding a portion of the sheet against opposite ends of the print, said conveyor thereupon moving vertically, means operable during said last conveyor movement for folding upper and lower flaps at opposite ends of the print, means on the carriage operable upon further shifting thereof for ejecting the print, and means on the conveyor for imparting final fold to the sheet at the ends of the print during the ejecting movement.

14. A print wrappin machine comprising a vertically reciprocable platform conveyor, means to advance a print and sheet wrapper therefor onto said conveyor, a stationary plate against which the print abuts, a pusher above said conveyor and cooperating therewith and with said plate to form a three sided compartment for effecting folding of the sheet about three sides of the print, a carriage shiftable horizontally having means partially to embrace the print upon the first vertical movement of the conveyor and cause folding of a portion of the sheet about the remaining side of the print, said conveyor moving vertically after shifting of said carriage, additional plate means cooperating with said conveyor upon second vertical movement thereof causing overlapping of another portion of the sheet upon said remaining side, a second pusher engaging the top of the print in said last position, said pushers moving vertically with said conveyor to militate against unfolding of the sheet, means for folding a portion of the sheet against opposite ends of the print, said conveyor thereupon moving vertically, means operable during said last conveyor movement for folding upper and lower flaps at opposite ends of the print, means on the carriage operable upon further shifting thereof for ejecting the print, and means on the conveyor for imparting final fold to the sheet at the ends of the print during the ejecting movement.

15. That method which consists in recurrently advancing a print of butter or the like in one direction, rectilinearly shifting the print laterally intermediate one period of advance, then rectilinearly shifting the print laterally in the opposite direction intermediate the next period of advance, progressively folding a sheet about the print during such movements, and holding the folds after being made until the next fold is initiated to prevent unwrapping.

16. A print wrapping machine comprising means'for recurrently advancing a print of buttion intermediate one advancing period, means for rectilinearly moving the print laterally in the opposite direction intermediate the next advancing period, and means for progressively folding a sheet of wrapping material about said print during such movements.

17. That method which consists in recurrently advancing a print of butter or the like, rectilinearly shifting the print laterally in one direction intermediate the first advancing periods, rectilinearly shifting the print laterally in the opposite direction intermediate the next advancing periods, and progressively folding a sheet about the print during such movements.

18. That method which consists in recurrently advancing a print of butter or the like in the same direction periods, and prothe print during 19. A print wrapping machine comprising means operable in successive periods for advancing a print of butter or the like in one direction, means for rectilinearlyshifting the print laterally intermediate one period of advance, means for rectilinearly shifting the print laterally in the opposite direction intermediate the next period of advance, means for progressively folding a sheet about the print during such movements, and means for holding the folds after being made until the next fold is initiated to prevent unfolding.

20. A print wrapping machine comprising means for recurrently advancing a print of butter or the like in the same direction in one plane at one period of advance and in another plane at another period of advance, the latter being in spaced parallel relationship to the first plane, means for shifting the print laterally in one di rection intermediate one advancing period intermediate the first advancing periods, means for shifting the print laterally in the opposite direction intermediate the next advancing periods, and means for progressively folding a sheet about the print during such movements.

EARL J. RAPP. KENNETH G. HEFT. 

